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Lyanna Stark


Arya of Winterfell

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After forcing myself to watch several seasons of Merlin, I just don't see Katie McGrath as Lyanna. Probably because she just doesn't seem like a very good actress to me. And she comes across as far too pompous and self-important in that show. I haven't seen anything else of her work though.

Kaya Scodelario remains my #1 pick, but after seeing a couple of fan videos starring Jessica Brown-Finlay, I could probably get behind her as well.

I feel like this is more the show and it's writing than her - Morgana is written as pompous and self - important for sure. There are a few great actors in that show, but the material they were given wasn't exactly ground breaking.

Jessica Brown-Finlay I just can't see it. I feel like she lacks the elegance and grace that McGrath has, and on a more shallow level, she has quite a round face - I've always imagined Lyanna to have quite a slim, defined face/ jawline.

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I know this is all subjective, but I do have reasons for Saoirse Ronan, so here goes --



1. We know that Lyanna was physically strong, and that she rode, jousted, fought with swords, and in general, enjoyed the outdoors. Whoever ends up playing Lyanna will at some point have to square their body to the camera and we as viewers have to see this strong, healthy young woman.



2. Lyanna is described as beautiful, but with Stark beauty. In other words, equine face, grey eyes, and -- looks like Arya, who looks like Jon, who apparently looks like his mother! Actors can be made to look like anyone. Hair and eye color can easily be changed. Many of the brunette actresses mentioned in this thread are lovely, but they have a delicate beauty. Whoever plays Lyanna will need an open, direct face that is more than pretty. It will have to communicate character because we know that Lyanna would come to the rescue of a friend, and be successful at it (KotLT).



3. GoT has some excellent actors on it. Saoirse Ronan has done some terrific acting work and for examples, one could look to Atonement or Lovely Bones or even Hanna. So, she brings talent and experience.



4. Some folks have remarked on this board that the actress cannot be American. Do folks know that Peter Dinklage is from New Jersey??? LOL Anyway, Ronan has Irish parents so that could let her slip under the non-American requirements, if such requirements exist.




I do not know the actress, and I have zero financial interest in her career. However, when I think of Lyanna Stark, Ronan comes to my mind.


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I've always imagined a Jennifer Connelly type. Beautiful but with a bit of roughness to the edges. She was said to have an 'edge' to her that was similar to Arya, no? A 'wild beauty' I think someone too pretty and flowery wouldn't serve the character. It also adds some character to Rhaegar being that he fell in love with basically an older version of our protagonist (Arya) and that he seemingly didn't fall in love with her for looks alone.



Clea Duvall was great in Carnivale (HBO show) and has that Tom Boy roughness to her.



http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BNTY2Mjk3MDE1MF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzkzMzc5Mw@@._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg


http://famousdude.com/images/clea-duvall-03.jpg



Of course, no one kicks ass like the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Noomi Rapace


https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/88/d0/13/88d0135e0c3f30f49386a6fa7cca0af4.jpg


http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzc9d527WJ1rn6f2do4_500.jpg


http://static.gamesradar.com/images/totalfilm/n/noomi-rapace-arrives-in-hollywood-470-75.jpg


http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/images/noomi_rapace_sherlock_holmes_2_movie.jpg



Of course, I think Jennifer Connelly is a match (then again she has been the girl of my dreams since Labyrinth when I was like 5 so I'm very biased)


http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/prettylittleliars/images/d/d5/Jennifer-Connelly-jennifer-connelly-204157_900_1128.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20141108201354


http://awoiaf.westeros.org/images/4/42/Lyanna_stark_by_riavel.jpg


http://www.freeallimages.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/jennifer-connelly-2.jpg

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I know this is all subjective, but I do have reasons for Saoirse Ronan, so here goes --

1. We know that Lyanna was physically strong, and that she rode, jousted, fought with swords, and in general, enjoyed the outdoors. Whoever ends up playing Lyanna will at some point have to square their body to the camera and we as viewers have to see this strong, healthy young woman.

2. Lyanna is described as beautiful, but with Stark beauty. In other words, equine face, grey eyes, and -- looks like Arya, who looks like Jon, who apparently looks like his mother! Actors can be made to look like anyone. Hair and eye color can easily be changed. Many of the brunette actresses mentioned in this thread are lovely, but they have a delicate beauty. Whoever plays Lyanna will need an open, direct face that is more than pretty. It will have to communicate character because we know that Lyanna would come to the rescue of a friend, and be successful at it (KotLT).

3. GoT has some excellent actors on it. Saoirse Ronan has done some terrific acting work and for examples, one could look to Atonement or Lovely Bones or even Hanna. So, she brings talent and experience.

4. Some folks have remarked on this board that the actress cannot be American. Do folks know that Peter Dinklage is from New Jersey??? LOL Anyway, Ronan has Irish parents so that could let her slip under the non-American requirements, if such requirements exist.

I do not know the actress, and I have zero financial interest in her career. However, when I think of Lyanna Stark, Ronan comes to my mind.

Have you forgot that Peter Dinklage's accent is hilarious?

I don't see why Ronan's Irish family makes her prime candidate to play Northern English.

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As a fellow New Jerseyan, I find Dinklage's accent to be perfect in every way (I kid, I kid).



I was unaware if there is some rule or bias that actors in GoT must NOT be American, except for Dinklage, so I thought Ronan's parentage might help her. It was point 4, after all, the weakest point LOL


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As a fellow New Jerseyan, I find Dinklage's accent to be perfect in every way (I kid, I kid).

I was unaware if there is some rule or bias that actors in GoT must NOT be American, except for Dinklage, so I thought Ronan's parentage might help her. It was point 4, after all, the weakest point LOL

Its not that, its just that very few Americans can really pull off the British accent and those that are taught 'British' are taught stage school British. The BBC Newsreader voice. Before Thrones, Northern accents were almost invisible on American TV. It was always said the US would never understand them. I still don't think US actors would be able to answer what type of British accent they had. Liam Cunningham is Irish, he plays Davos as someone from Newcastle and everyone is shocked because the actor 'British' is never Northern!

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I've probably said this a million times. But I have always imagined Sarah Bolger for The Tudors as Lyanna. Another option that I saw in the most recent Underworld movie is India Eisley. Both are young and talented actresses who look younger than their age and could easily pass for 14-16. Considering Lyanna was only thirteen during the Tourney at Harrenhal, I would hope they'd cast someone who appears that age.

well the show age the characters up so that they wouldn't have kids preforming sex scenes or have legally aged actors pretending to be kids engaging in sexual acts as that is legally considered child porn, and in that vein I believe they would also age up lyanna also consiering everyone is aged up lyanna being so young wouldn't match up, I mean lyanna is bethrothed to robert who at the start of the show is like what? in his 40's, lets just say he's 40 for the sake of argument if roberts rebellion was 16 years before the start of the series then he would be 24 and she would be 13 years old and that wouldn't fly with audiences having a 13 year old girl bethrothed to matty a 24 year old man so they would have to age her up

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Personally I think Katie McGrath would be my choice. She lives up to:



- the dark haired, light eyed coloring of the Starks


- Lyanna was supposed to have been exceptionally beautiful


- she's at the top of the right age range



Yes, Morgana was an obnoxious character with obnoxious lines, however Merlin the show had some issues with writing as a whole. And her turn in Jurassic Park was so brief that we heard more of her screaming while she got eaten than anything else (rofl).



That said, all we are likely to see of Lyanna is a very brief deathbed scene. Those saying they want an athletic woman cast are really hoping for too much, I think - they won't devote reams of screen time to Lyanna and Rhaegar's match. At most we are likely to see a dying woman at the Tower of Joy.



I think that's one reason why I favor McGrath. She is SO very pale, and with proper makeup (as seen on Morgana at that character's low points) she really can look like she's about to die.


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As a fellow New Jerseyan, I find Dinklage's accent to be perfect in every way (I kid, I kid).

I was unaware if there is some rule or bias that actors in GoT must NOT be American, except for Dinklage, so I thought Ronan's parentage might help her. It was point 4, after all, the weakest point LOL

Ronan does have an Irish accent.

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